SUPPORTING STATEMENT

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

NESHAP for Taconite Iron Ore Processing (40 CFR Part 63, Subpart RRRRR) (Renewal)

1. Identification of the Information Collection

1(a) Title of the Information Collection

NESHAP for Taconite Iron Ore Processing (40 CFR Part 63, Subpart RRRRR) (Renewal), 

EPA ICR Number 2050.05, OMB Control Number 2060-0538

1(b) Short Characterization/Abstract

The National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for Taconite 

Iron Ore Processing were proposed on December 18, 2002, promulgated on October 30, 2003, 

and amended on April 20, 2006. These regulations apply to each existing and new taconite iron 

ore processing plant that is a major source of hazardous air pollutant (HAP), if it emits or has the 

potential to emit any single HAP at a rate of 10 tons or more per year or any combination of 

HAP at a rate of 25 tons or more per year. The effective sources in this subpart covers emissions 

from ore crushing and handling emission units, ore dryer stacks, indurating furnace stacks, 

finished pellet handling emission units, and fugitive dust emissions. New facilities include those 

that commenced construction or reconstruction after the date of proposal. This information is 

being collected to assure compliance with 40 CFR part 63, subpart RRRRR.

In general, all NESHAP standards require initial notifications, performance tests, and 

periodic reports by the owners/operators of the affected facilities. They are also required to 

maintain records of the occurrence and duration of any startup, shutdown, or malfunction in 

the operation of an affected facility, or any period during which the monitoring system is 

inoperative. These notifications, reports, and records are essential in determining compliance, 

and are required of all affected facilities subject to NESHAP.

Any owner/operator subject to the provisions of this part shall maintain a file of these 

measurements, and retain the file for at least five years following the date of such measurements, 

maintenance reports, and records. All reports are sent to the delegated state or local authority. 

In the event that there is no such delegated authority, the reports are sent directly to the U. S.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regional office.

 Based on our consultations with industry representatives, there is an average of one 

affected facility at each plant site and that each plant site has only one respondent (i.e., the 

owner/operator of the plant site).

The taconite iron ore industry consists of eight processing plants in the United States, all 

which are publicly-owned subsidiaries of integrated steel companies. None of these eight plants 

in the United States are owned by either state, local, tribal or the Federal Government.
2

Over the next three years, an average of eight respondents per year will be subject 

to the standards, and no additional respondents per year will become subject to the standard.

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approved the currently active ICR 

without any Terms of Clearance.

The “Affected Public” is owners or operators of taconite iron ore processing plants. 

The burden to the “Affected Public” may be found below in Table 1: Annual Respondent Burden 

and Cost – NESHAP for Taconite Iron Ore Processing (40 CFR Part 63, Subpart RRRRR) 

(Renewal). The Federal Government “burden” is attributed entirely to work performed by either 

Federal employees or government contractors and refers to Table 2 below: Average Annual EPA 

Burden and Cost – NESHAP for Taconite Iron Ore Processing (40 CFR Part 63, Subpart 

RRRRR) (Renewal). 

2. Need for and Use of the Collection

2(a) Need/Authority for the Collection

The EPA is charged under Section 112 of the Clean Air Act, as amended, to establish 

standards of performance for each category or subcategory of major sources and area sources of 

hazardous air pollutants. These standards are applicable to new or existing sources of hazardous 

air pollutants and shall require the maximum degree of emission reduction. In addition, section 

114(a) states that the Administrator may require any owner/operator subject to any requirement 

of this Act to: 

(A) Establish and maintain such records; (B) make such reports; 

(C) install, use, and maintain such monitoring equipment, and use 

such audit procedures, or methods; (D) sample such emissions (in 

accordance with such procedures or methods, at such locations, at 

such intervals, during such periods, and in such manner as the 

Administrator shall prescribe); (E) keep records on control 

equipment parameters, production variables or other indirect data 

when direct monitoring of emissions is impractical; (F) submit 

compliance certifications in accordance with Section 114(a)(3); 

and (G) provide such other information as the Administrator may

reasonably require.

In the Administrator's judgment, HAP emissions from taconite iron ore processing plants 

cause or contribute to air pollution that may reasonably be anticipated to endanger public health 

or welfare. Therefore, the NESHAP were promulgated for this source category at 40 CFR part

63, subpart RRRRR.
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2(b) Practical Utility/Users of the Data

The recordkeeping and reporting requirements in the standards ensure compliance with 

the applicable regulations which where promulgated in accordance with the Clean Air Act. The 

collected information is also used for targeting inspections and as evidence in legal proceedings.

Performance tests are required in order to determine an affected facility’s initial 

capability to comply with the emission standards. Continuous emission monitors are used to 

ensure compliance with the standards at all times. During the performance test a record of 

the operating parameters under which compliance was achieved may be recorded and used 

to determine compliance in place of a continuous emission monitor.

The notifications required in the standards are used to inform the Agency or delegated 

authority when a source becomes subject to the requirements of the regulations. The reviewing 

authority may then inspect the source to check if pollution control devices are properly installed 

and operated, leaks are being detected and repaired, and the standards are being met. The 

performance test may also be observed.

The required semiannual reports are used to determine periods of excess emissions, 

identify problems at the facility, verify operation/maintenance procedures and for compliance 

determinations.

3. Non-duplication, Consultations, and Other Collection Criteria

The requested recordkeeping and reporting are required under 40 CFR part 63, subpart

RRRRR.

3(a) Non-duplication

If the subject standards have not been delegated, the information is sent directly to the 

appropriate EPA regional office. Otherwise, the information is sent directly to the delegated 

state or local agency. If a state or local agency has adopted its own similar standards to 

implement the Federal standards, a copy of the report submitted to the state or local agency can 

be sent to the Administrator in lieu of the report required by the Federal standards. Therefore, 

duplication does not exist.

3(b) Public Notice Required Prior to ICR Submission to OMB

An announcement of a public comment period for the renewal of this ICR was published 

in the Federal Register (77 FR 63813) on October 17, 2012. No comments were received on the 

burden published in the Federal Register.
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3(c) Consultations

The Agency’s industry experts have been consulted, and the Agency’s internal data 

sources and projections of industry growth over the next three years have been considered. 

The primary source of information as reported by industry, in compliance with the recordkeeping 

and reporting provisions in the standard, is the Online Tracking Information System (OTIS)

which is operated and maintained by the EPA Office of Compliance. OTIS is the EPA database 

for the collection, maintenance, and retrieval of all compliance data. 

Consultations with industry representatives (i.e., respondents) were conducted to 

determine if there is any way for EPA to reduce the recordkeeping and reporting burden or 

improve the language in the standard to make it easier to comply. In developing this ICR, 

EPA contacted: 1) the National Mining Association, at (202) 463-2600; and 2) the Iron Mining 

Association of Minnesota, at (218) 722-7724.

It is our policy to respond after a thorough review of comments received since the last 

ICR renewal as well as those submitted in response to the first Federal Register notice.

3(d) Effects of Less Frequent Collection

Less frequent information collection would decrease the margin of assurance that 

facilities are continuing to meet the standards. Requirements for information gathering and 

recordkeeping are useful techniques to ensure that good operation and maintenance practices are 

applied and emission limitations are met. If the information required by these standards was 

collected less frequently, the proper operation and maintenance of control equipment and the 

possibility of detecting violations would be less likely.

3(e) General Guidelines

These reporting or recordkeeping requirements do not violate any of the regulations

promulgated by OMB under 5 CFR part 1320, section 1320.5.

These standards require the respondents to maintain all records, including reports and 

notifications for at least five years. This is consistent with the General Provisions as applied to 

the standards. EPA believes that the five-year records retention requirement is consistent the 

Part 70 permit program and the five-year statute of limitations on which the permit program is 

based. The retention of records for five years allows EPA to establish the compliance history of 

a source, any pattern of non-compliance, and to determine the appropriate level of enforcement 

action. EPA has found that the most flagrant violators have violations extending beyond five 

years. In addition, EPA would be prevented from pursuing the violators due to the destruction or 

nonexistence of essential records.

3(f) Confidentiality

Any information submitted to the Agency for which a claim of confidentiality is made 

will be safeguarded according to the Agency policies set forth in Title 40, chapter 1, part 2, 

subpart B - Confidentiality of Business Information (CBI) (see 40 CFR 2; 41 FR 36902, 
5

September 1, 1976; amended by 43 FR 40000, September 8, 1978; 43 FR 42251, September 20, 

1978; 44 FR 17674, March 23, 1979).

3(g) Sensitive Questions

The reporting or recordkeeping requirements in the standard do not include sensitive 

questions.

4. The Respondents and the Information Requested

4(a) Respondents/SIC Codes

The respondents to the recordkeeping and reporting requirements are taconite iron ore 

processing facilities. The United States Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code for the 

respondents affected by the standard is SIC 1011, which corresponds to the North American 

Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 212210 for Iron Ore Mining.

4(b) Information Requested

(i) Data Items

In this ICR, all the data that is recorded or reported is required by the NESHAP for 

Taconite Iron Ore Processing (40 CFR Part 63, Subpart RRRRR) (Renewal).

A source must make the following reports:

Notifications/Reports

Initial notification 63.9640(b)-(c), 63.9(b)-(c)

Notification of intent to conduct a performance test 63.9640(d), 63.7(b)(1)

Notification of compliance status 63.9640(e), 63.9(h)(2)(ii)

Request to conduct a new performance test 63.9622(f)

Semiannual compliance report 63.9641(a), 63.8(c)(7)-(8), 

63.10(d)(5)(i)

Startup, shutdown, or malfunction report 63.9641(c), 63.10(d)(5)(ii)
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A source must keep the following records:

Recordkeeping

Notifications and reports 63.9642(a)(1), 63.10(b)(2)(xiv)

Startups, shutdowns or malfunctions, periods where the 

continuous monitoring system is inoperative.

63.9642(a)(2), 63.6(e)(3)(iii)-(v) 

Performance tests 63.9642(a)(3), 63.10(b)(2)(viii)

Records for continuous opacity monitoring system 

(COMS)

63.9642(b), 63.10(b)(2)(vi), 

63.6(h)(7)(i)-(ii)

Records required to demonstrate continuous compliance 63.9642(c), 10(b)(2)(vii)

Electronic Reporting

Some of the respondents are using monitoring equipment that automatically records 

parameter data. Although personnel at the affected facility must still evaluate the data, internal 

automation has significantly reduced the burden associated with monitoring and recordkeeping 

at a plant site. 

Also, regulatory agencies, in cooperation with the respondents, continue to create 

reporting systems to transmit data electronically. However, electronic reporting systems are still 

not widely used. At this time, it is estimated that approximately 10 percent of the respondents 

use electronic reporting.

(ii) Respondent Activities

Respondent Activities

Read instructions.

Install, calibrate, maintain, and operate CMS for opacity, or for pressure drop and liquid 

supply pressure for control device.

Perform initial performance test, Reference Method 1, 1A, 2, 2A, 2C, 2F, 2G, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 

5D, or 17 tests, and repeat performance tests if necessary.

Write the notifications and reports listed above.

Enter information required to be recorded above.

Submit the required reports developing, acquiring, installing, and utilizing technology and 

systems for the purpose of collecting, validating, and verifying information.

Develop, acquire, install, and utilize technology and systems for the purpose of processing and 

maintaining information.

Develop, acquire, install, and utilize technology and systems for the purpose of disclosing and 

providing information.
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Respondent Activities

Train personnel to be able to respond to a collection of information.

Transmit, or otherwise disclose the information.

Currently sources are using monitoring and reporting equipment that provide parameter 

data in an automated way e.g., continuous parameter monitoring system. Although personnel 

at the source still need to evaluate the data, this type of monitoring equipment has significantly 

reduced the burden associated with monitoring and recordkeeping.

5. The Information Collected: Agency Activities, Collection Methodology, and 

Information Management

5(a) Agency Activities

EPA conducts the following activities in connection with the acquisition, analysis, 

storage, and distribution of the required information.

Agency Activities

Review notifications and reports, including performance test reports, and excess emissions 

reports, required to be submitted by industry.

Audit facility records.

Input, analyze, and maintain data in the Online Tracking Information System (OTIS).

5(b) Collection Methodology and Management

Following notification of startup, the reviewing authority could inspect the source 

to determine whether the pollution control devices are properly installed and operated. 

Performance test reports are used by the Agency to discern a source’s initial capability to 

comply with the emission standard. Data and records maintained by the respondents are 

tabulated and published for use in compliance and enforcement programs. The semiannual 

reports are used for problem identification, as a check on source operation and maintenance, 

and for compliance determinations.

Information contained in the reports is entered into OTIS which is operated and 

maintained by EPA's Office of Compliance. OTIS is EPA’s database for the collection, 

maintenance, and retrieval of compliance data for approximately 125,000 industrial and 

government-owned facilities. EPA uses the OTIS for tracking air pollution compliance and 

enforcement by local and state regulatory agencies, EPA regional offices and EPA headquarters. 

EPA and its delegated Authorities can edit, store, retrieve and analyze the data.

The records required by this regulation must be retained by the owner/operator for five

years.
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5(c) Small Entity Flexibility

During the development of this rule, it was determined that there are no small entities 

(i.e., small businesses) affected by this regulation. However, the impact on small entities 

was taken into consideration during the development of the regulation. Due to technical 

considerations involving the process operations and the types of control equipment employed, 

the recordkeeping and reporting requirements are the same for both small and large entities. 

The Agency considers these to be the minimum requirements needed to ensure compliance and, 

therefore, cannot reduce them further for small entities. To the extent that larger businesses can 

use economies of scale to reduce their burden, the overall burden will be reduced.

5(d) Collection Schedule

The specific frequency for each information collection activity within this request is 

shown in below Table 1: Annual Respondent Burden and Cost – NESHAP for Taconite Iron Ore 

Processing (40 CFR Part 63, Subpart RRRRR) (Renewal).

6. Estimating the Burden and Cost of the Collection

Table 1 documents the computation of individual burdens for the recordkeeping and 

reporting requirements applicable to the industry for the subpart included in this ICR. The 

individual burdens are expressed under standardized headings believed to be consistent with the 

concept of burden under the Paperwork Reduction Act. Where appropriate, specific tasks and 

major assumptions have been identified. Responses to this information collection are mandatory.

The Agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, 

a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB Control Number.

6(a) Estimating Respondent Burden

The average annual burden to industry over the next three years from these recordkeeping 

and reporting requirements is estimated to be 614 (Total Labor Hours from Table 1 below). 

These hours are based on Agency studies and background documents from the development of 

the regulation, Agency knowledge and experience with the NESHAP program, the previouslyapproved ICR, and any comments received.

6(b) Estimating Respondent Costs

(i) Estimating Labor Costs

This ICR uses the following labor rates: 

Managerial $121.44 ($57.83+ 110%) 

Technical $100.23 ($47.73 + 110%)

Clerical $50.51 ($24.05 + 110%)
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These rates are from the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, March 

2012, “Table 2. Civilian Workers, by occupational and industry group.” The rates are from 

column 1, “Total compensation.” The rates have been increased by 110 percent to account for 

the benefit packages available to those employed by private industry.

(ii) Estimating Capital/Startup and Operation and Maintenance Costs

The type of industry costs associated with the information collection activities in the 

subject standard are both labor costs which are addressed elsewhere in this ICR and the costs 

associated with continuous monitoring. The capital/startup costs are one time costs when a 

facility becomes subject to the regulation. The annual operation and maintenance (O&M) 

costs are the ongoing costs to maintain the monitor(s) and other costs such as photocopying 

and postage.

(iii) Capital/Startup vs. Operation and Maintenance (O&M) Costs

Capital/Startup vs. Operation and Maintenance (O&M) Costs

(A)

Continuous 

Monitoring 

Device

(B)

Capital/Startup 

Cost for One 

Respondent

(C)

Number of 

New

Respondents

(D)

Total 

Capital/Startup 

Cost, (B X C)

(E)

Annual O&M 

Costs for One 

Respondent

(F)

Number of 

Respondents 

with O&M

(G)

Total O&M,

(E X F)

Scrubbers $150,000 0 $0 $12,900 8 $103,200

Baghouses $225,000 0 $0 $19,300 8 $154,400

There are no total capital/startup costs for this ICR. This is the total of column D in 

the above table. 

The total O&M costs for this ICR are $257,600. This is the total of column G. 

The average annual cost for capital/startup and operation and maintenance costs to 

industry over the next three years of the ICR is estimated to be $257,600.

6(c) Estimating Agency Burden and Cost

The only costs to the Agency are those costs associated with analysis of the reported 

information. EPA's overall compliance and enforcement program includes activities such as 

the examination of records maintained by the respondents, periodic inspection of sources of 

emissions, and the publication and distribution of collected information. 

The average annual Agency cost during the three years of the ICR is estimated to be 

$5,307.
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This cost is based on the average hourly labor rate as follows:

Managerial $62.27 (GS-13, Step 5, $38.92 + 60%) 

Technical $46.21 (GS-12, Step 1, $28.88 + 60%)

Clerical $25.01 (GS-6, Step 3, $15.63 + 60%)

These rates are from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), 2011 General Schedule,

which excludes locality, rates of pay. The rates have been increased by 60 percent to account for 

the benefit packages available to government employees. Details upon which this estimate is 

based appear below in Table 2: Average Annual EPA Burden and Cost – NESHAP for Taconite 

Iron Ore Processing (40 CFR Part 63, Subpart RRRRR) (Renewal).

6(d) Estimating the Respondent Universe and Total Burden and Costs

Based on our research for this ICR, on average over the next three years, approximately

eight existing respondents will be subject to the standard. It is estimated that no additional

respondents per year will become subject. The overall average number of respondents, as shown 

in the table below, is eight per year.

The number of respondents is calculated using the following table that addresses the three 

years covered by this ICR. 

Number of Respondents

Year (A)

Number

of New

Respondents 1

(B)

Number of 

Existing 

Respondents

(C)

Number of Existing 

Respondents that keep 

records but do not 

submit reports

(D)

Number of Existing 

Respondents That 

Are Also New

Respondents

(E)

Number of 

Respondents

(E = A-B-CD)

1 0 8 0 0 8

2 0 8 0 0 8

3 0 8 0 0 8

Average 8

1

New respondent include sources with constructed and reconstructed affected facilities.

Column D is subtracted to avoid double-counting respondents. As shown above, the 

average Number of Respondents over the three year period of this ICR is eight. 

The total number of annual responses per year is calculated using the following table:
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Total Annual Responses

(A)

Information Collection Activity

(B)

Number of 

Respondents 

(C)

Number of 

Responses

(D)

Number of Existing 

Respondents That

Keep Records But Do 

Not Submit Reports

(E)

Total Annual 

Responses 

E=(BxC)+D

Initial notification 0 1 0 0

Compliance extension request 0 1 0 0

Site-specific test plan 0.64 1 0 0.64

Operation and maintenance plan 0 1 0 0

Fugitive dust emission control plan 0 1 0 0

Site-specific monitoring plan 0 1 0 0

Semiannual compliance reports 8 2 0 16

Petition for alternative monitoring 

requirements

0 1 0 0

Notification of performance tests 3.2 3 0 9.6

Total 26.24

The number of Total Annual Responses is 26 (rounded).

The total annual labor costs are $392,507. Details regarding these estimates may be 

found below in Table 1: Annual Respondent Burden and Cost – NESHAP for Taconite Iron Ore 

Processing (40 CFR Part 63, Subpart RRRRR) (Renewal).

6(e) Bottom Line Burden Hours and Cost Tables

The detailed bottom line burden hours and cost calculations for the respondents and the 

Agency are shown in Tables 1 and 2, respectively, and summarized below. 

(i) Respondent Tally

The total, annual labor hours for industry are 614 hours at a cost of $392,507. Details 

regarding these estimates may be found below in Table 1: Annual Respondent Burden and Cost 

– NESHAP for Taconite Iron Ore Processing (40 CFR Part 63, Subpart RRRRR) (Renewal). 

Furthermore, the annual public reporting and recordkeeping burden for this collection of 

information is estimated to average 24 hours per response.

The total annual capital/startup and O&M costs to the regulated entity are 

$257,600. The cost calculations are detailed in Section 6(b)(iii), Capital/Startup vs. Operation 

and Maintenance (O&M) Costs.
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(ii) The Agency Tally

The average annual Agency burden and cost over next three years is estimated to be 118 

labor hours at a cost of $5,307. See Table 2 below: Average Annual EPA Burden and Cost –

NESHAP for Taconite Iron Ore Processing (40 CFR Part 63, Subpart RRRRR) (Renewal).

6(f) Reasons for Change in Burden

There is a decrease in both respondent and Agency burdens from the most recently 

approved ICR. This is not due to any program changes. Instead, this decrease is due to 

discrepancies that were identified in the burden calculations of the previous ICR, which have 

been addressed in this ICR. Specifically, the previous ICR overestimated the frequency of 

burden activity associated with site-specific test plans and startup, shutdown, and malfunction 

plan reviews. The previous ICR also double-counted total labor costs associated with respondent 

reporting activities. These discrepancies resulted in the overestimation of both respondent and 

Agency labor burdens. The revisions in this ICR address all those discrepancies and contribute 

directly to the observed decrease in labor burdens and costs for both respondents and the 

Agency.

There is an increase in labor rates for both the respondents and the Agency from the most 

recently approved ICR. This ICR uses updated labor rates from the Bureau of Labor Statistics to 

calculate burden costs for respondents, and uses updated labor rates from OPM to calculate 

burden costs for the Agency.

6(g) Burden Statement

The annual public reporting and recordkeeping burden for this collection of information 

is estimated to average 24 hours per response. Burden means the total time, effort, or financial 

resources expended by persons to generate, maintain, retain, or disclose or provide information 

to or for a Federal agency. This includes the time needed to review instructions; develop, 

acquire, install, and utilize technology and systems for the purposes of collecting, validating, 

and verifying information, processing and maintaining information, and disclosing and providing 

information; adjust the existing ways to comply with any previously applicable instructions and 

requirements; train personnel to be able to respond to a collection of information; search data 

sources; complete and review the collection of information; and transmit or otherwise disclose 

the information.

An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, 

a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB Control Number. The OMB 

Control Numbers for EPA regulations are listed at 40 CFR part 9 and 48 CFR chapter 15.
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To comment on the Agency's need for this information, the accuracy of the provided 

burden estimates, and any suggested methods for minimizing respondent burden, including the 

use of automated collection techniques, EPA has established a public docket for this ICR under 

Docket ID Number EPA-HQ-OECA-2012-0693. An electronic version of the public docket is 

available at http://www.regulations.gov/ which may be used to obtain a copy of the draft 

collection of information, submit or view public comments, access the index listing of the 

contents of the docket, and to access those documents in the public docket that are available 

electronically. When in the system, select “search,” then key in the docket ID number identified 

in this document. The documents are also available for public viewing at the Enforcement and 

Compliance Docket and Information Center in the EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC), EPA West, 

Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW, Washington, DC. The EPA Docket Center Public 

Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal 

holidays. The telephone number for the Reading Room is (202) 566-1744, and the telephone 

number for the docket center is (202) 566-1752. Also, you can send comments to the Office of 

Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, 725 17th Street, NW, 

Washington, DC 20503, Attention: Desk Officer for EPA. Please include the EPA Docket ID 

Number EPA-HQ-OECA-2012-0693 and OMB Control Number 2060-0538 in any

correspondence. 

Part B of the Supporting Statement

This part is not applicable because no statistical methods were used in collecting this 

information.
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Table 1: Annual Respondent Burden and Cost – NESHAP for Taconite Iron Ore Processing (40 CFR Part 63, Subpart 

RRRRR) (Renewal) 

REPORTING/ RECORDKEEPING 

REQUIREMENT

(A) 

Respondent 

Hours per 

Occurrence 

(Technical 

Hours) 

(B)

Number of 

Occurrences 

per 

Respondent 

per Year 

(C) 

Hours per 

Respondent 

per Year 

(C= AxB) 

(D) 

Number of 

Respondents 

per Year a 

(E) 

Technical 

Hours per 

Year 

(E = CxD) 

(F) 

Management 

Hours per 

Year 

(F = Ex0.05) 

(G) 

Clerical 

Hours per 

Year 

(G = Ex0.1) 

(H) 

Total Labor 

Costs per 

Year b 

1. Applications N/A

2. Survey and Studies N/A

3. Reporting Requirements

 A. Read instructions c2 1 2 0 0 0 0 $0

 B. Required activities

 Performance test – facility labor d40 1 40 3.2 128 6.4 12.8 $14,253.19

 Performance test – contractor costs e- - - - - - - $333,000

 Startup , shutdown, and malfunction plan 40 1 40 3.2 128 6.4 12.8 $14,253.19

 C. Create information See 4B

 D. Gather existing information See 4B

 E. Write reports

 Initial notification c2 1 2 0 0 0 0 $0

 Compliance extension request c2 1 2 0 0 0 0 $0

 Site-specific test plan f40 1 40 1.6 96 4.8 9.6 $10,689.89

 Operation and maintenance plan g40 1 40 0 0 0 0 $0

 Fugitive dust emission control plan h20 1 20 0 0 0 0 $0

 Site-specific monitoring plan i80 1 80 0 0 0 0 $0

 Semiannual compliance reports 8 2 16 8 128 6.4 12.8 $14,253.19

 Petition for alternative monitoring 

requirements

40 1 40 0 0 0 0 $0

 Notification of performance test j4 3 12 3.2 38.4 1.92 3.84 $4,275.95

Subtotal for Reporting Requirements 596.16 $390,725.14
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REPORTING/ RECORDKEEPING 

REQUIREMENT

(A) 

Respondent 

Hours per 

Occurrence 

(Technical 

Hours) 

(B)

Number of 

Occurrences 

per 

Respondent 

per Year 

(C) 

Hours per 

Respondent 

per Year 

(C= AxB) 

(D) 

Number of 

Respondents 

per Year a 

(E) 

Technical 

Hours per 

Year 

(E = CxD) 

(F) 

Management 

Hours per 

Year 

(F = Ex0.05) 

(G) 

Clerical 

Hours per 

Year 

(G = Ex0.1) 

(H) 

Total Labor 

Costs per 

Year b 

4. Recordkeeping requirements

 A. Read instructions See 3A

 B. Plan activities 3 1 3 0 0 0 0 $0

 C. Develop record system 16 1 16 0 0 0 0 $0

 D. Time to train personnel 3 1 3 0 0 0 0 $0

 E. Time to transmit or disclose information 1 2 2 8 16 0.8 1.6 $1,781.65

 F. Time for audits N/A

Subtotal for Recordkeeping Requirements 18.4 $1,781.65

Total Labor Burden and Cost (rounded) 614 $392,507

Assumptions:

a

 We have assumed that the average number of respondent that will be subject to the rule will be the eight existing respondents. There will be no additional new 

sources per year that will become subject to the rule over the three-year period of this ICR.

b

 This ICR uses the following labor rates: Technical $100.23 ($47.73 + 110%); Managerial $121.44 ($57.83+ 110%); and Clerical $50.51 ($24.05 + 110%). 

These rates are from the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, March 2012, “Table 2. Civilian Workers, by occupational and industry 

group.” The rates are from column 1, “Total compensation.” The rates have been increased by 110 percent to account for the benefit packages available to those 

employed by private industry. This ICR assumes that Managerial hours are 5 percent of Technical hours, and Clerical hours are 10 percent of Technical hours.

c This is a one-time only activity.

d

 We have assumed that it will take 40 hours for each facility to complete performance test, and that performance tests are repeated every two of five years.

Therefore, an average of 3.2 facilities per year will complete performance tests (2 performance test/5 years*8 facilities).

e.

 We have assumed that contractors costs to complete performance testing are based on the following: (53 indurating furnaces and ore dryer Method 5 PM tests

@$8,000/test)+(115 OCH and PH Method 5 PM tests @ $5,000/test) for a total of $999,000 for three years. Therefore, contractor costs will be $333,000 per year

($999,000/3 years).

f

 We have assumed that 20 percent of all sources will send in a site-specific test plan.

g

 We have assumed that each respondent will take 40 hours to write the operation and maintenance plan.

h

 We have assumed that each respondent will take 20 hours to write the fugitive dust emission control plan.

i We have assumed that each respondent will take 80 hours to complete the site-specific monitoring plan report.

j We have assumed that each respondent will take 4 hours to complete the notification of performance test report.
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Table 2: Average Annual EPA Burden and Cost – NESHAP for Taconite Iron Ore Processing (40 CFR Part 63, Subpart 

RRRRR) (Renewal)

REPORTING/ RECORDKEEPING 

REQUIREMENT

(A) 

EPA Hours 

per 

Occurrence 

(Technical 

Hours)

(B) 

Number of 

Occurrences 

per Plant 

per Year

(C) 

EPA Hours 

per Plant 

per Year 

(C = AxB)

(D) 

Plants per 

Year a

(E) 

Technical 

Hours

per Year 

(E = CxD)

(F) 

Management 

Hours per 

Year 

(F = Ex0.05)

(G) 

Clerical 

Hours

per Year 

(G = Ex0.1)

(H) 

Costs

per Year b

Initial performance tests c, d

8 7 56 0 0 0 0 $0 

Report Review

 Initial notification c

2 1 2 0 0 0 0 $0 

 Notification of initial performance test c

2 3 6 0 0 0 0 $0 

 Fugitive dust emissions control plan e

10 1 10 0 0 0 0 $0 

 Compliance extension request 2 1 2 0 0 0 0 $0 

 Site-specific test plan f

10 1 10 0.64 6.4 0.32 0.64 $331.68

 Operation and maintenance plan f

10 1 10 0 0 0 0 $0 

 Site-specific monitoring plan f

10 1 10 0 0 0 0 $0 

 Petition for alternative monitoring 

requirements 5 1 5 0 0 0 0 $0 

 Review of semiannual compliance report 4 2 8 8 64 3.2 6.4 $3,316.76

 Review of startup, shutdown, and 

malfunction plan g 10 1 10 3.2 32 1.6 3.2 $1,658.38

Total Labor Burden and Cost (rounded) 118 $5,307 

Assumptions:

a We have assumed that the average number of respondents that will be subject to the rule will be the eight existing respondents. There will be no additional new 

sources per year that will become subject to the rule over the three-year period of this ICR.

b

 This cost is based on the average hourly labor rate as follows: Technical $46.21 (GS-12, Step 1, $28.88 + 60%); Managerial $62.27 (GS-13, Step 5, $38.92 + 

60%); and Clerical $25.01 (GS-6, Step 3, $15.63 + 60%). This ICR assumes that Managerial hours are 5 percent of Technical hours, and Clerical hours are 10

percent of Technical hours. These rates are from the OPM, 2012 General Schedule, which excludes locality rates of pay. The rates have been increased by 60 

percent to account for the benefit packages available to government employees.

c

 This is a one-time only activity.

d We have assumed that the initial performance test/occurrences per respondent are based on the following: (53 indurating furnaces and ore dryer Method 5 PM
17

tests +115 OCH and PH Method 5 PM tests) for a total of 168 Method 5 PM tests for three years. 168 tests/3 years = 56 Method 5 PM tests/year. (56 Method 5

PM tests/year)/(8 plants) = 7 Method 5 PM tests per year per plant.

e

 We have assumed that each of the fugitive dust emissions control plan will be unchanged.

f We have assumed that it will take each respondent 10 hours to review the plan.

g We have assumed that 40 percent of respondents will submit startup, shutdown, and malfunction plan/reports.